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Buy Now
Bisto Book of the Year (2000)
Children's fiction
Historical Fiction
Book Details:
Price:
€7.95
Binding: pb
Pages: 224
Size: 196x130 mm
ISBN-10 0-86278-643-6
ISBN-13 978-0-86278-643-4
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Rights held:
World, all languages.
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Blue Flag: For readers aged 10+
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Karl and Rosa's family watch in horror as Hitler's troops parade down the streets of their home city -- Vienna. It has become very dangerous to be a Jew in Austria, and after their uncle is sent to Dachau, Karl and Rosa's parents decide to send the children out of the country on a Kindertransport, one of the many ships carrying refugee children away from Nazi danger.
Isolated and homesick, Karl ends up in Millisle, a run-down farm in Ards in Northern Ireland, which has become a Jewish refugee centre, while Rosa is fostered by a local family.
Hard work on the farm keeps Karl occupied, although he still waits desperately for any news from home. Then he makes friends with locals Peewee and Wee Billy, and also with the girls from neutral Dublin who come to help on the farm, especially Judy. But Northern Ireland is in the war too, with rationing and air-raid warnings, and, in April 1941 the bombs of the Belfast Blitz bring the reality of war right to their doorstep.
And for Karl and Rosa and the other refugees there is the constant fear that they may never see their parents again.
Based on a true story -- there was a refugee farm at Millisle and among its occupants was a young boy called Karl.
Extract available: read some of this book now ...
Chapter one: Anschluss! and Chapter two: The Iron Ring
The Author Speaks
About Call Yourself A Friend?:
Behind the Story: Call Yourself a Friend
About Could this be Love? I Wondered:
Marilyn Taylor talks about the Jackie and Kev Trilogy
My visit to Millisle Primary School: the place behind the story of Faraway Home
About 17 Martin Street:
Writing for Children about the Holocaust
The Reader Speaks
Goldi's Story by Megan Ní Mhathúna
Why Use A Class Novel?
Pupils' Impressions of Faraway Home
My Favourite Character in Faraway Home
The Match in Millisle
Quiz based on Faraway Home
Student Reaction to Visit to Millisle Primary School of Marilyn Taylor and Mr Hackworth
About 17 Martin Street:
Review of 17 Martin Street by Robert Nestor, Greenhills College, Dublin
Links
Reading 17 Martin Street at the launch of Inchicore Library's "One Book, One Community" initiative.
Read Marilyn's special blog post about her involvement in the fantastic 'One Liberties, One Book'
Teaching Resources: free to view and download
Teaching ideas for sixth class from O'Brien Reading Programme
Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 1
List of all available resources
Problems viewing resources? You will need a PDF file reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader,
which is available free from
Adobe.
Cover Gallery: other covers for this book
Praise for Faraway Home
'By far the most successful fictional interpretation of the kindertransports. A very well constructed and beautifully written narrative. While this book is suitable for the lower secondary years, it has proved to have much impact on home older juniors in England.' The School Librarian
'It conveys brilliantly the insecurities of children in a refugee situation, charts an interesting aspect of Irish history and provides sharp insights into the difficulties facing refugees.' Anglo Celt
'The main characters are appealing, and the setting is intriguing in this well-researched novel by an Irish author. The real strength of the book, however, lies in its realistic portrayal of Karl's feelings and of the friendships he makes in his new surroundings.' Booklist
'Every young adult should read this book. It is history, written with the gripping reality of fiction. It is a story which, like Anne Frank's diary, brings home to us all the horrific misery inflicted by the Nazis -- and the need to ensure that we never allow it to happen again.' Lord Janner, QC, Holocaust Educational Trust
'It seems to me that one of the most important elements of successful writing for modern teenagers is respect for the readers. To show that respect my golden rules are, first, not to preach at them; second, not to underestimate them; and, third, to make sure that what they are being offered is as accurate, authentic and as true as it can be. And for the latter, research, though not the whole story, is the key.' The author writing in Children's Books in Ireland
'Sensitively unfolds a touching story of the anguish suffered by Jewish refugee chidren sent to a farm in County Down during the Second World War. The pathos, suffering and bravery are overwhelming. But for me, it is Taylor's skill in building three-dimensional characters which makes this book so outstanding. This is a story which stays with the reader, long after the final page has been turned.' Children's Books in Ireland
'Based on the Dublin author's research into the real Jewish refugee farm in Millisle set up during the war, the book is a moving story of courage, prejudice and the ability of young people to cope with the most difficult challeges.' Karen Quinn, News Letter
'An absorbing new book from Marilyn Taylor … a remarkable blend of fiction and historical fact, which also reveals a relatively unknown facet of World War Two.' Pauline Devine, The Irish Times
'It's a gripping read.' Northside People
'Unflinchingly honest but radiating a belief in basic human decency, [Marilyn Taylor's books] make for an illuminating read for adults and kids alike.' Irish Independent
Reader reviews
'Excellent book' Daniel
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